Mahesh Uttamchandani

Mahesh Uttamchandani is the World Bank’s Regional Practice Director for Digital in East Asia & Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) regions. In this capacity, he oversees the World Bank’s lending, advisory and knowledge programs in the area of digital transformation in all EAP and SAR countries and is a member of the Regional Leadership Teams for both EAP and SAR.

Mr. Uttamchandani joined the World Bank in April 2006, as Senior Counsel in the Legal Vice-Presidency.  He has since held various positions in both the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, including Global Manager for Financial Inclusion & Infrastructure where he led the Bank's work on expanding access to finance through digital financial services and the financial sector aspects of digital ID and digital payments.

Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Uttamchandani worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, UK and as a commercial litigator at a leading law firm in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Uttamchandani has taught and lectured at universities around the world and has published extensively, including key World Bank publications on fintech and as an author in the World Bank’s flagship World Development Report, 2022.